Every month, Rhythm Magazine take the finest drum gear on the planet and thrash it to within an inch of its life. Every week, we post the results in the form of a killer buyers’ guide. Here, we’re left with the best of the best: a guide to building the best drum setup your money can buy. First up: the excellently cheap Mapex VX Series…

MusicRadar’s verdict:

“The VX has eight-ply 7.2 mm basswood shells with a lacquered maple veneer and breezy choice of translucent satin or coloured 'plasma' finishes. The small toms have ITS isolation mounting brackets, completing the up-market look. There's also a wide range of sizes to choose from – or to expand your kit with later on.” (Via: Buyers’ guide: budget drum kits)

“There's real potential lurking in those shells, which means this isn't a kit that you will outgrow in a few months, and the hardware pack will certainly see you into a gigging career. So all in all, another welcome offering from the Big M. Just be sure to check out the flashier finishes if tree-lover brown isn't your thing.” (Via: Mapex VX Series Kit full review)